Senior Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

You’ll be stepping into a senior veterinary surgeon position at a thriving small animal hospital with an impressive large and varied caseload. This is a full-time permanent role working a 4×10 hour day pattern with a guaranteed day off each week, plus a shared 1:5 weekend rota covering Saturdays and Sundays. The practice is conveniently located in Shedfield, easily commutable from Southampton, Portsmouth, Waterlooville, Fareham, Winchester, and surrounding areas across Hampshire and East Sussex.

What makes this opportunity special is the combination of surgical focus and genuine team support. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities including a dedicated orthopaedic theatre, two fully equipped soft tissue theatres (both with laparoscopic capability), a double dental suite, a dedicated imaging suite with visiting CT, and separate wards for dogs, cats, and exotic pets. You’ll be joining a close-knit team of 16 day vets and 3 night vets, many holding specialist certificates in Diagnostic Imaging, Cardiology, Medicine, Endoscopy, and Endosurgery, supported by 34 clinical staff, 18 reception, and 5 admin colleagues.

Part-time arrangements are also considered for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct line management of 2–3 veterinary colleagues, with responsibility for their clinical development and day-to-day support
• Fielding and responding to clinical queries from the reception team and clients, ensuring smooth communication across the practice
• Leading surgical cases, with particular opportunity to develop and mentor colleagues in orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures
• Organisational delegation of workload across the veterinary team to ensure efficient patient care and staff wellbeing
• Contributing to the practice’s clinical culture, including participation in journal clubs and team-building activities
• Supporting client education through information evenings and open days

Requirements

• Registered veterinary surgeon with preferably prior line management experience
• Proven line management or mentorship experience (or demonstrated readiness to take on this responsibility)
• Surgical interest or bias, with enthusiasm for orthopaedic and soft tissue cases
• Strong communication skills—comfortable fielding client and team queries
• Commitment to collaborative, supportive veterinary practice
• Full-time availability preferred, but part-time candidates considered

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (with buy/sell holiday scheme allowing purchase of up to 2 additional weeks)
• Extra day’s leave per year for the first 5 years at CVS
• RCVS, VDS, and subscription fees fully paid
• Abundant, generously funded CPD with access to internal and external development courses and programmes
• Cycle to work scheme and subsidised gym membership
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Automatic enrolment pension scheme
• Access to First Aid for Mental Health training and CVS Wellbeing Champions network (300+ trained colleagues)
• Colleague discount on pet products and treatments, including free consults, cost-price drugs, and online pharmacy discount (Animed)
• Company share-save scheme

About the Practice

Animed Veterinary Hospital in Shedfield is part of CVS Group, a major veterinary healthcare provider across the UK. The practice operates as a first-opinion small animal hospital with state-of-the-art surgical and diagnostic facilities, serving a large catchment area with a diverse caseload. The team is actively engaged in professional development, equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, with multiple wellbeing first aiders on staff.

CVS is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all colleagues are supported to be themselves, difference is celebrated, and everyone can deliver their best. The group is determined to build a workforce representative of the diverse communities it serves.